14th Feb 2019 https://nfind.uk/brexit_cliff_edge/index.php/newsletter=4 brexit_cliff_edge

Jobs at Risk

The Times Ford has become the latest carmaker to sound the alarm over Brexit saying that it is stepping up preparations to move production out of Britain. The business which has 13000 staff in the UK told the prime minister on a private call with business leaders that it was preparing alternative sites abroad. The warning comes after Nissan announced last week that it was cancelling plans to build a new model in its Sunderland plant a decision that it attributed in part to Brexit uncertainty. https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/b7b8135a-2f12-11e9-b50c-c6da8f614c54 13th Feb 2019

Jobs at Risk

BBC Ford declined to comment directly on The Times report but said it had long warned against a hard Brexit. The company is the latest carmaker to warn on the risks of a nodeal Brexit. Such a situation would be catastrophic for the UK auto industry and Fords manufacturing operations in the country the company said in a statement. We will take whatever action is necessary to preserve the competitiveness of our European business. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-47225787 13th Feb 2019

Jobs at Risk

Reuters UK Ford Motor Co told British Prime Minister Theresa May that it is stepping up preparations to move production out of Britain The Times reported on Tuesday. The automaker told the prime minister during a private call with business leaders that it is preparing alternative sites abroad The Times said. Ford was not immediately available for comment. https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-britain-eu-ford-motor/ford-told-uk-pm-may-it-is-preparing-alternative-production-sites-the-times-idUKKCN1Q12SK?utm_source=applenews 13th Feb 2019

Jobs at Risk

Financial Times Anne Finucane Bank of Americas vicechair said her company would spend about 400m the upper bound of a 300m400m range previously given by BofA on everything from offices to moving people and technology as it tries to ensure clients can trade seamlessly with the EU after the UKs exit. BofAs plans include moving 50bn of banking assets to Dublin and creating a 500strong trading business in Ireland which will also have a sizeable but asyet unspecified asset base. The bank is also moving traders to a new Paris hub. Dublin is our headquarters for our European bank now full stop she said. There isnt a return. That bridge has been pulled up...From a trading perspective likewise Paris would be the European trading arm. https://www.ft.com/content/b9d43bba-2f7a-11e9-8744-e7016697f225 13th Feb 2019

Jobs at Risk

Coventry Telegraph Almost 4000 jobs could be lost in Coventry if Britain crashes out of the EU without a deal according to research. The numbers are cited in research by the University of Sussexs UK Trade Policy Observatory. n Coventry a total of 1750 jobs could be lost among residents if a soft Brexit happens according to the research. The worst hit will be those living in the Coventry South constituency with 650 jobs expected to be lost among residents there. In Coventry North East 600 jobs are set to be lost and 550 in Coventry North West. https://www.coventrytelegraph.net/news/coventry-news/brexit-jobs-lost-coventry-warwickshire-15817394 13th Feb 2019

Economic Impact

Financial Times Brexit presents its own threat to market cleanliness because City corporates may fail to knit back together their oversight after Britains departure Julia Hoggett the FCAs director of market oversight said in a speech on Wednesday. Companies have had to set up EU hubs to retain access to the bloc because Brexit will result in the loss of socalled passporting which allows them to be based in one country and sell services seamlessly across the EU without separate regulatory permission or ringfenced capital. https://www.ft.com/content/f248bf32-2f9f-11e9-ba00-0251022932c8 14th Feb 2019

Economic Impact

Forbes Neil Wilson Chief Market Analyst from Markets.com and this is what he is predicting You have to assume that a nodeal Brexit is very much in play and therefore there are severe downside risks to GBPUSD should that occur. Id anticipate a very severe shock in the FX markets even from where the pound is now. Sterling is undervalued but a nodeal Brexit could push it as low as 1.10. Should Theresa May somehow get her deal through stranger things have happened then a rally through to 1.40 would be on the cards. At present risks are tilted to the downside but a lastditch agreement on the deal is an upside risk. https://www.forbes.com/sites/samuelleach/2019/02/12/brexit-set-to-break-the-gbp/ 14th Feb 2019

Economic Impact

Politico The five recommended levers to manage a No Deal Brexit are Drop import tariffs to avoid big price hikes Use the Article 21 nuclear option Interest Rates. Should I cut or should I hike Stop Customs Checks Deregulate to become a fiscal paradise https://www.politico.eu/article/five-levers-to-tackle-uk-economic-shock-of-no-deal-brexit/ 14th Feb 2019

Economic Impact

Reuters UK Allan Monks an economist with JP Morgan said the impact of the power price cap would be shortlived because tariffs were likely to rise by around 10 percent in April. Unlike when the cap is lowered energy firms dont have to automatically raise prices when the cap is lifted. But we expect they will Monks said. https://uk.reuters.com/article/us-britain-economy-inflation/uk-inflation-falls-to-two-year-low-offering-households-help-before-brexit-idUKKCN1Q20ZD 13th Feb 2019

Administrative Fall Out

BBC UK firms have accused the government of leaving them hung out to dry in the event of a nodeal Brexit. With less than 50 days until 29 March when the UK is due to leave the EU the British Chambers of Commerce BCC says 20 key questions remain unresolved. How to move skilled staff between the UK and EU which rules to follow and what trade deals will be in place are all still unknown the BCC says. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-47217801 14th Feb 2019

Administrative Fall Out

The Guardian The Guardians Larry Elliott argues Free market economics has created a world fit for multinationals. But we need less frictionless trade and more local control so Brexit is good https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/feb/13/mark-carney-brexit-free-market-economics-frictionless-trade 14th Feb 2019

Administrative Fall Out

Financial Times With the terms of the UKs scheduled exit next month still in doubt the Central Bank of Ireland is processing a large volume of applications from London financial institutions. A Dublin official familiar with the authorisation process says a broad number in excess of 100 groups are on track for approval based on current circumstances. https://www.ft.com/content/c5d4b930-1d5f-11e9-b2f7-97e4dbd3580d 14th Feb 2019

Administrative Fall Out

Reuters UK After Brexit the EU will have a large liquid and interconnected capital market next door which is no longer subject to the blocs rules Steven Maijoor chair of the European Securities and Markets Authority said. This creates the need to have tools to react rapidly to new developments he told an industry event in Dublin. Lawyers said the comments signalled an arms length relationship with the EU for Britains financial sector after decades of being deeply interlinked. https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-britain-eu-markets-idUKKCN1Q22FZ 14th Feb 2019

Administrative Fall Out

The Guardian Trade with central and eastern Europe already affected and local GDP could shrink by 5. For Future Processing there are three main concerns about a hard Brexit. First the likelihood that the pound will plummet creating currency risk. Second that transport connections between Poland and the UK will be disrupted making it harder for the Polish companys representatives to visit British clients. Finally that the UK breaking away from EU law will create legal uncertainty and potential additional costs as the Polish and British systems diverge. https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/feb/13/eastern-european-companies-fear-chaos-of-no-deal-brexit 14th Feb 2019

Administrative Fall Out

BBC Newsnight The overwhelming feedback is that a nodeal Brexit would be extremely damaging politicians are still not taking it sufficiently seriously our Economics Editor Ben Chu on what hes been told by both big and small business firms today @BenChu newsnight https://twitter.com/BBCNewsnight/status/1095819587940114432 14th Feb 2019

Administrative Fall Out

ITV News When asked by @Peston if she would advise Scottish people to start stockpiling essentials @NicolaSturgeon says advice will develop over the next few weeks. Peston https://twitter.com/itvpeston/status/1095780096336482304 13th Feb 2019

Administrative Fall Out

The Independent The government needs to get its act together to prevent panicbuying and civil unrest over Brexit officials have warned. A group coordinating contingency planning in London heard that with 44 days until Britain is due to leave the EU authorities still have no direct indication of what were planning for. Fiona Twycross chair of the London Resilience Forum said people would stockpile food fuel and other supplies because of the uncertainty. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/brexit-food-supplies-panic-buying-medicine-london-warning-uk-government-a8778241.html 13th Feb 2019

Administrative Fall Out

BBC The Scottish government has stepped up its preparations for a nodeal Brexit as it again called on Theresa May to rule out the possibility. First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said she still believes no deal can be avoided. But she said her government had a duty to plan for the possibility as best it could. https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-47226482 13th Feb 2019

Administrative Fall Out

The Guardian The freight industry has warned of the potential for a fresh Brexit ferry fiasco after it emerged all British truckers will be required to have counterterrorism safety ... https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/feb/13/freight-industry-fears-security-check-chaos-under-no-deal-brexit 13th Feb 2019

Administrative Fall Out

ITV News First Minister of Scotland @NicolaSturgeon tells @Peston that it is frankly incredible we are discussing the possibility of food and medicine shortages in a prosperous country. Peston https://twitter.com/itvpeston/status/1095778008835620864 13th Feb 2019

Administrative Fall Out

ITV News President John Allan says that many businesses are currently making plans to transfer out of the UK due to Brexit uncertainty. Peston https://twitter.com/itvpeston/status/1095794135645052928 13th Feb 2019

Administrative Fall Out

The Star After March 29 EU citizens will need to apply for settled or presettled status to remain in the UK. This obviously wont apply to your husband as he is Japanese but I can see why you are concerned about increased waiting times if most EU citizens do need to contact the UK Visas and Immigration department at a similar time. The good news is that the deadline for applying will be June 30 2021 if we leave with a deal in place or December 31 2020 without a deal so hopefully applications will be spread out over that time period. https://www.thestar.co.uk/news/how-the-uk-visas-and-immigration-department-is-preparing-for-brexit-1-9590453 13th Feb 2019

Administrative Fall Out

Financial Times The prime minister said delaying Britains departure from the EU would bring no end to Brexit uncertainty or get parliament closer to approving a withdrawal agreement according to people who participated in the phone briefing with Mrs May. Her conference call with business leaders came after Mrs May told the House of Commons she needed more time to negotiate a revised Brexit deal with the EU. Her statement was met with weary horror by business leaders who reiterated the urgency of taking a nodeal Brexit off the table which she has repeatedly declined to do. https://www.ft.com/content/5c200018-2ede-11e9-ba00-0251022932c8 12th Feb 2019

Administrative Fall Out

BBC Radio4 Today This is really really scary... one in four food exporters could go out of business within six weeks Ian Wright CEO of @Foodanddrinkfed says a no deal Brexit is the biggest threat businesses have faced since 1939 r4today httpbbc.in2DtPcUK @dominicoc https://twitter.com/BBCr4today/status/1095259398447030272 12th Feb 2019

Administrative Fall Out

The Spectator An argument is put to say the public comment from car companies expressing disquiet about Brexit is not the real reason. Technological change the demise of diesel and middle class angst in China are the real reasons behind it. Only very reluctantly in the final paragraph is it admitted that Brexit might be involved in the decision making process https://www.spectator.co.uk/2019/02/carmageddon-the-future-is-catching-up-with-the-motor-giants/ 9th Feb 2019

Political Shenanigans

The Sun Theresa May has today been forced to deny that shes secretly planning to delay Brexit after a bombshell leak revealing the PM wants to run the clock down. Last night Theresa Mays chief Brexit negotiator was overheard in a bar saying she will threaten MPs with a huge delay if they dont back her deal next month. https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/brexit/8416583/brexit-latest-theresa-may-delay-brexit-run-down-clock-leak/ 14th Feb 2019

Political Shenanigans

BBC Last week several cabinet ministers told the BBC a nodeal Brexit could lead to a vote on Irish unification. Sinn Fin President Mary Lou McDonald has also called on the Irish government to begin planning for a border poll in the event of a nodeal Brexit. Now Bertie Ahern has called such a move irresponsible https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-47227297 14th Feb 2019

Political Shenanigans

The Irish Times Taoiseach Leo Varadkar expects the UK to leave the European Union at the end of March with a withdrawal deal although his Government continues to prepare for for all outcomes including a nodeal Brexit. Addressing more then 300 international bankers and finance executives at a conference in Dublin Mr Varadkar said it was necessary to ensure that there would be no return to a hard border in Ireland and that the peace process be protected. https://www.irishtimes.com/business/economy/varadkar-expects-uk-to-leave-eu-with-brexit-deal-at-end-of-march-1.3792248 14th Feb 2019

Political Shenanigans

BBC Newsnight The Brexiteer Tories are not happy with the government motion and are threatening to vote against it Newsnights Political Editor Nick Watt lays out the potential landscape facing the government in tomorrows Brexit motion @nicholaswatt newsnight https://twitter.com/BBCNewsnight/status/1095820074756169728 14th Feb 2019

Political Shenanigans

Politics Home Figures published by Labour show that the Labour leader handed over 46074.90 to the HMRC for the 201718 tax year. The new data represents the fourth time Mr Corbyn has made his own tax return public and shows that he earned 132611 in the 12month period from his salary as an MP and pensions. https://www.politicshome.com/news/uk/political-parties/labour-party/news/101807/jeremy-corbyn-urges-theresa-may-publish-tax 13th Feb 2019

Political Shenanigans

The Guardian The British government is pretending to negotiate with the European Union and has not presented any new proposals to break the Brexit deadlock according to EU officials. Barnier has said current talks with the UK do not even qualify as negotiations. In a call on Tuesday morning with Guy Verhofstadt chief Brexit representative for the European parliament Barnier said there were no negotiations with the British. These are courtesy calls at best and we have nothing new to say Barnier was reported to have said by a source familiar with the conversation. https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/feb/13/kicking-up-dust-little-sign-of-progress-in-uk-eu-talks 13th Feb 2019

Political Shenanigans

New Statesman On Monday HuffPosts Paul Waugh contended that unwilling to countenance a solution that will split her party the prime minister has warmed to the once unthinkable idea of leaving the EU without a deal as a fallback position should her withdrawal agreement be rejected for a second time by MPs. ITVs Robert Peston generated much excitement with a similar argument in a blog published the same day. https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/uk/2019/02/does-theresa-may-want-no-deal-brexit 13th Feb 2019

Political Shenanigans

Politics Home Jeremy Corbyn tabled an amendment to the Prime Ministers Brexit plan which would force the Government to hold a fresh meaningful vote on her deal by the end of February. MPs will vote on Labours attempt on Thursday and the Labour leader said This amendment would stop the Government from running down the clock on the Brexit negotiations hoping Members of Parliament can be blackmailed into supporting a botched deal. This is an act of gross irresponsibility. The Prime Minister is playing for time and playing with peoples jobs our economic security and the future of our industry. https://www.politicshome.com/news/uk/foreign-affairs/brexit/news/101825/labour-launches-bid-stop-theresa-may-running-down-clock 13th Feb 2019

Political Shenanigans

BBC The unhappiness with the Labour leadership is of course not new. But the moment of decision may have arrived because some of the MPs in the small group who are contemplating leaving felt it was worth staying in a party they felt was hostile to them as individuals while they had a chance of influencing Brexit policy. But as the final shakedown over Brexit approaches and Jeremy Corbyns attitude to another referendum stays the same obviously not enthusiastic their frustration is reaching new levels. And if they cant get him to the position of backing another vote for them whats the point of hanging around to defend a policy they dont believe in in a party they believe is no longer their own. https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-47234322 13th Feb 2019

Political Shenanigans

The Guardian Members of the Tory European Research Group are unhappy with the wording of a No 10 motion because it endorses parliaments vote against any Brexit without a withdrawal agreement. The motion for debate on Thursday simply affirms the approach to leaving the EU backed by the Commons on 29 January when an amendment was passed in favour of an attempt to replace the Northern Ireland backstop with alternative arrangements. The motion was thought to be fairly uncontroversial until proBrexit supporters realised it also encompassed a second amendment passed on that day which ruled out a nodeal Brexit. The amendment tabled by Dame Caroline Spelman rejects the United Kingdom leaving the European Union without a withdrawal agreement and a framework for the future relationship. https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/feb/13/hardline-brexiters-threaten-to-vote-down-theresa-mays-motion 13th Feb 2019

Political Shenanigans

The Guardian So who or what is Britains Future Sorry I have no idea. As openDemocracy points out it has no published address and releases no information about who founded it who controls it and who has been paying for these advertisements. The only person publicly associated with it is a journalist called Tim Dawson who edits its website. Dawson has not yet replied to the questions I have sent him. It is in other words highly opaque. The antiBrexit campaigns are not much better. Peoples Vote and Best for Britain have also been spending heavily on Facebook ads though not as much in recent weeks as Britains Future. https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/feb/13/dark-money-hard-brexit-targeted-ads-facebook 13th Feb 2019

Political Shenanigans

The Guardian After two years of talks the government has admitted that every form of Brexit will hurt our economy. That means our constituents will be poorer for many of them their jobs will be put at risk and the pressures on our NHS and other public services will only deepen. And far from taking back control Brexit would see the UK forced to follow EU rules over which we will no longer have a say. https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/feb/12/our-constituencies-voted-to-leave-based-on-an-impossible-promise?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other 12th Feb 2019

Political Shenanigans

BBC And at the start of this Westminster week its hard to find anyone in Westminster who is confident that there will be any ending to the drama much before the end of March. There is a summit with EU leaders where the prime minister will gather with her counterparts seven days before the departure date of 29 March. And while it seems like the kind of kamikaze politics the UK doesnt tend to do traditionally at least there is growing expectation horrific to some exciting to others that the prime minister may well not come back with her final deal that she wants them to vote on until after that. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-47206342 11th Feb 2019

Political Setbacks

The Guardian Steve Coogan said it feels right for his character to return now particularly given Brexit There might be a missive at the BBC saying that a certain area of the viewing audience had been disenfranchised Alan potentially represents that. You can imagine them thinking we might as well give this guy another bite of the cherry. https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2019/feb/14/alan-partridge-bbc-brexit-steve-coogan 14th Feb 2019

Political Setbacks

Huffington Post UK European governments are being warned that Britain may in future hold back military help for EU countries if there is a nodeal Brexit HuffPost UK understands. Officials have told foreign diplomats that while Theresa May is fully committed to maintaining strong defence and security ties future governments could be less willing to support new missions in the EU like the current deployment of troops to Estonia on Russias border. https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/exclusive-no-deal-brexit-could-make-uk-hold-back-military-help-for-eu_uk_5c645933e4b0018ed01b21f4 14th Feb 2019

Political Setbacks

Financial Times Mark Rutte the Dutch prime minister has said Britain is a diminished country after its vote for Brexit and warned that a nodeal exit from the bloc risked insurmountable consequences for the UK economy. Mr Rutte expressed alarm that Britain appeared to be doing nothing to stop itself from crashing out of the EU on March 29 saying it could be devastating. At the moment the ball is rolling towards the Dover cliff and we are shouting Stop the ball from rolling any further but nobody is doing anything at the moment at least not on the UK side he said in an interview with the Financial Times and a group of other European newspapers https://www.ft.com/content/44f6a5f8-2f8e-11e9-ba00-0251022932c8 14th Feb 2019

Political Setbacks

The Guardian The sobering thing for me was the realisation that I only heard these moderate voices because I was stuck with them this being the whole point of the programme to go back to those I had heard from before. In the normal run of things they wouldnt have made the cut and they would never have got on air. What good is a moderate considered voice in a news vox pop If I had been doing a radio phonein and one of this lot had been put through to me Id be mouthing annoyance through the glass at my producer asking what they were playing at. https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/feb/13/the-surprising-truth-about-brexit-britain-were-a-country-full-of-moderates 14th Feb 2019

Political Setbacks

Business Insider Industry figures say the governments nodeal Brexit plans would bar thousands of British lorries from entering EU countries. Up to 90 of British trucks could be barred from operating in Europe in the event of a nodeal Brexit which the Road Haulage Association said would bankrupt many firms. The Road Haulage Association described the permit allocation process as the most spectacularly badly run lottery. The Department for Transport said it was confident of securing a deal which would allow lorries to continue enjoying the current access they enjoy. https://www.businessinsider.com/brexit-chris-grayling-running-lottery-which-could-bar-british-lorries-from-europe-under-no-deal-2019-2 14th Feb 2019

Political Setbacks

Politics Home Labour splits on Brexit have been laid bare once more after Sir Keir Starmer appeared to suggest that pushing for a general election was no longer a credible ... https://www.politicshome.com/news/uk/political-parties/labour-party/jeremy-corbyn/news/101839/labour-split-erupts-over-brexit 14th Feb 2019

Political Setbacks

The Independent Officials have admitted they have run out of time to find ships to bring extra emergency supplies after a nodeal Brexit following the Seaborne Freight fiasco. No large amount of further additional capacity will be available across the Channel before the end of March MPs were told by either sea or rail. The admission follows the embarrassment of the cancelled 13.8m contract handed to Seaborne a firm with no ships which has sparked calls for Chris Grayling the transport secretary to be sacked. It would not be possible to complete procurement and make it operational for 29 March the Department for Transports director general admitted. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/brexit-no-deal-planning-emergency-supplies-seaborne-freight-chris-grayling-a8777766.html 13th Feb 2019

Political Setbacks

The Guardian Jeremy Corbyn faces up to 10 resignations from the Labour frontbench if he fails to throw his partys weight behind a fresh attempt to force Theresa May to submit her Brexit deal to a referendum in a fortnights time frustrated MPs are warning. With tension mounting among antiBrexit Labour MPs and grassroots members several junior shadow ministers have told the Guardian they are prepared to resign their posts if Corbyn doesnt whip his MPs to vote for a proreferendum amendment at the end of the month. https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/feb/13/labour-mp-submits-plan-for-referendum-on-brexit-deal 13th Feb 2019

Political Setbacks

RTE Members of the backbench European Research Group say that it effectively endorses another amendment ruling out nodeal which was approved by MPs the same day but is not binding on the British government. One ERG member told the BrexitCentral website We told the government very clearly last night that we will not support this motion and in fact we urged them indeed pleaded with them at senior level to withdraw it yesterday but they took absolutely no notice. Frankly we despair. https://www.rte.ie/news/brexit/2019/0213/1029249-may-mps-brexit/ 13th Feb 2019

Political Setbacks

NPR The protest group Led By Donkeys wants to remind citizens of what it considers to be misleading pledges by proBrexit leaders as political chaos continues ... https://www.npr.org/2019/02/13/693949313/as-brexit-deadline-looms-billboards-call-out-politicians-quick-and-easy-claims 13th Feb 2019

Political Setbacks

The Washington Post British Prime Minister Theresa May reportedly said she scrapes the mold off jam which was quickly dubbed a perfect metaphor to describe Britains European Union departure plans. The British leader who is a keen cook reportedly told members in her top leadership team that instead of throwing out moldy jam she scoops off the mold and eats what is underneath. What is left is perfectly edible she reportedly said. Her views came up in a discussion about food waste according to the Daily Mail. https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2019/02/13/theresa-may-reportedly-scrapes-mold-off-jam-is-this-perfect-metaphor-brexit/ 13th Feb 2019

Political Setbacks

Evening Standard Theresa May faces a Commons revolt by Tory Rightwingers amid chaos over her Brexit policy. Members of the hardline European Research Group said they will vote against the Government tomorrow night putting her at risk of another humiliating defeat. The clash erupted over the wording of a government motion that supports a previous Commons vote that opposed crashing out of the EU without a deal. At Prime Ministers Questions Mrs May attempted to reassure Tory MPs that she still planned to leave the EU on March 29. However she did not rule out a delay altogether. https://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/brexit-latest-theresa-may-faces-valentine-s-day-revolt-as-tory-hardliners-vow-to-keep-nodeal-alive-a4065906.html?utm_medium=Social&amputm_source=Twitter#Echobox=1550076895 13th Feb 2019

Political Setbacks

iNews Theresa May risks an embarrassing Commons defeat on Thursday at the hands of Eurosceptic Tories who claim she has taken a nodeal Brexit off the negotiating table. Tory whips are trying to quell a threatened rebellion by the European Research Group ERG which is pushing for a harder Brexit. It has more than 80 members. Mrs Mays tiny working majority could be swept away if even a small number of ERG supporters refuse to support the Prime Minister. https://inews.co.uk/news/brexit/theresa-may-facing-commons-defeat-as-eurosceptics-fear-she-is-going-soft-on-brexit/ 13th Feb 2019

Political Setbacks

Channel 4 News Crashing out without a deal is a disastrous option for this country... and so it must be stopped. Former Tory Attorney General Dominic Grieve explains why he is backing an attempt to block a nodeal Brexit. https://twitter.com/Channel4News/status/1095650928005394432 13th Feb 2019

Political Setbacks

The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/feb/13/brexit-is-national-crisis-former-diplomats-tell-theresa-may 13th Feb 2019

Political Setbacks

Reuters More than 40 former British ambassadors have called on Prime Minister Theresa May to extend Britains stay in the European Union The Times reported on Wednesday. The diplomats said it would be best to delay Brexit in order to clarify the terms of the future relationship between Britain and the EU or allow for a second referendum the Times said citing a statement sent to it. Unless May can get a Brexit deal approved by the British parliament before March 29 she will have to decide whether to delay Brexit or thrust the worlds fifth largest economy into chaos by leaving without a deal. https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-britain-eu-diplomats/delay-brexit-40-former-diplomats-tell-may-the-times-idUKKCN1Q231I?feedType=RSS&ampfeedName=topNews 13th Feb 2019

Political Setbacks

The Sun Theresa May mounted a startling personal attack on Jeremy Corbyn yesterday after secret Tory polling revealed his integrity rating has collapsed. The Labour leader used to boast record high ratings for being a man of principle. Close to 40 of the nation previously said the lifelong Socialist was a man of his word whether they agreed with him or not. But that has now plummeted down to just 11 after the opposition leader was seen as flipflopping over a series of Brexit issues surveys carried out for Tory chiefs have revealed. https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/brexit/8422620/jeremy-corbyn-integrity-collapse-brexit/ 13th Feb 2019

Political Setbacks

The Yorkshire Post Indeed it would surprise me actually ever to see a Labour government again if this happens since Scotland will be on its way and the chances of Barrons Brexitloving bedfellows in the bigoted DUP actually ever supporting a Labour government are nil. Lets hope that the sense and realism of David Blunkett and both recent Labour prime ministers wins out and that a second referendum is held that will deliver 20 million votes for Remain which will be the case if young people are allowed to express a preference. https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/opinion/yp-letters-labour-must-back-people-s-vote-or-suffer-brexit-backlash-1-9591389 13th Feb 2019

Political Setbacks

ITV News When pressed by @Peston if Remain should be on the ballot paper @LenMcCluskey says that staying in would not be the best option for our nation. Peston https://twitter.com/itvpeston/status/1095791065674612736 13th Feb 2019

Political Setbacks

LBC Layla Moran believes Theresa May is deluded for kicking the can down the road and that there are enough MPs in Parliament to put through a socalled Peoples Vote. The Liberal Democrat called the Prime Minister deluded for kicking the can down the road describing Brexit beginning to look like something out of a farce. https://www.lbc.co.uk/radio/presenters/iain-dale/layla-moran-theresa-may-deluded/ 12th Feb 2019

Trade Deals/Negotiations

The Guardian Britain has received demands to roll back its human rights standards in exchange for progress on postBrexit trade deals including from some countries that ... https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/feb/13/post-brexit-trade-partners-ask-uk-to-lower-human-rights-standards 13th Feb 2019

Trade Deals/Negotiations

Express.co.uk The Bern government is set to introduce a new quota system giving 3500 British citizens the right to work in the country after the UK leaves the EU according to Reuters. The number of those who can apply for residence permits will be capped at 2100. Switzerland will also offer 1400 shortstay visas for Brits as part of the system which will replace the current free movement agreement between the two countries. https://www.express.co.uk/news/politics/1086611/Brexit-news-eu-migrants-switzerland 13th Feb 2019

Trade Deals/Negotiations

The Guardian The governments push to roll over EU trade deals from which the UK currently benefits has yielded agreements covering only 16bn of the near117bn of British trade with the countries involved. Despite frenetic efforts by ministers to ensure the continuity of international trade after the UK leaves the EU on 29 March the international trade secretary Liam Fox has so far only managed to secure deals with seven of the 69 countries that the UK currently trades with under preferential EU free trade agreements which will end after Brexit. https://www.theguardian.com/business/2019/feb/13/brexit-uk-trade-deals-eu 13th Feb 2019

Trade Deals/Negotiations

Huffington Post Cabinet minister Liam Fox was accused of abject failure after it emerged just six of the 40 trade deals he promised will actually be signed in time for Brexit. The trade secretary who once said a free trade agreement with the EU would be the easiest in human history had vowed to roll over 40 EU deals with 70 countries before Britain breaks from the bloc on March 29. But according to a document leaked to The Sun Fox has secured just a handful and is now asking countries to sign nonbinding letters of understanding instead. https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/liam-fox-branded-abject-failure-over-pre-brexit-trade-deals_uk_5c63f69fe4b07115222bbfeb?ncid=tweetlnkukhpmg00000008 13th Feb 2019

Trade Deals/Negotiations

TruePublica.org What happened was that a number of WTO members which included the U.S. New Zealand and more than a dozen major exporters said they opposed the U.K.s approach and terms and then formally objected to the British government application the consequence was that Britains proposal to join on WTO terms were rejected by some of the very countries that Liam Fox is claiming Britain will be able to trade with. Even Peter Mandelson sacked from high office as many times as Fox has been could see that WTO rules would not instantly work for Britain. Trading under WTO rules would he argued wipe out agreements and take away preferential access. And how right he was on both counts. https://truepublica.org.uk/united-kingdom/brexit-britains-trade-application-that-the-wto-rejected/ 5th Feb 2019